Daily Thoughts

In the Old Testament we read that the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments. God will judge us for every work and every secret thing--whether it be good or evil. Eccl. 12: 13-14 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

In the Book of Mormon I read about how Aaron tried to preach to the people from the scriptures, trying to teach them about the Atonement of Christ and the resurrection of the dead. However, they became angry with him, mocked him, and would not hear his words. It's a sad fact that this is often how wicked people react when someone tries to teach them the Word of God. They refuse to listen and persecute or even kill the messenger. Alma 21: 9-10 "Now Aaron began to open the scriptures unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and that there could be no redemption for mankind save it were through the death and sufferings of Christ, and the atonement of his blood. And it came to pass as he began to expound these things unto them they were angry with him, and began to mock him; and they would not hear the words which he spake."

Some verses with a thought booklet teach us that the mercy of the Lord is very great. He is slow to anger and eager to forgive our sins if we'll trust in Him. Just like a father loves his children, so the Lord loves us and has compassion for us. He can remove our sins so far from us, that it's like the distance between east and west--and what could be farther than that? Ps. 103: 8-13 "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him."

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